Improved method of removing sand-bars from rivers



. NrTnn STATES PATENT EDWIN BELL, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,489, dated May 8, 1866.

To au whom 'it may concern.-

Bc it known that I, EDWIN BELL,of StPaul, in the county ofItamsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Plan and Apparatus for Removing Sand-Bars, tvc., from RiverOha-nnels; and I do hereby declare that the followin g is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use the invention, I will proceed to describe it.

'Ihe nature of my invention consists in a novel method of removing1 sand-bars and similar obstructions and deepening the channels of rivers and streams by lneans of an apparatus consisting of a series of floating guides for turning the current onto the bar or obstruction, and in using therewith, it' desired, one or more wheels, to be propelled either by the current or by other power, for the purpose of digging, stirring, or cutting up the sand or other obstruction in the stream.

Figure 1 represents a plan view, and Fig. 2

a side view, ofthe apparatus which I propose4 to use.

Itis wellknown that the Mississippi'andmany other of our /Vestern rivers and streams have sand-bars formed in their channels by thefloods and currents, and that the navigation thereof is seriously retarded and in many cases entirely obstructed thereby, much to the detriment and inconvenience of the public. Many plans have been devised and many dredges invented for the purpose of removing these obstructions, but hitherto without success. The greatest difficulty in removing these sand-bars arises from the fact that the sand is so tine, yielding, and loose that it cannot be readily removed by the ordinary dredging or excavating machines, and that when thus dug out the hole or cavity is immediately filled again by the mass of sand swept in by the current.

I propose to remove these sand-bars or cut channels through them by means-of the current itself. To do this two results must be accomplished-first, to turn or ,direct the current of the stream on or across the bar; and, second, as an auxiliary, to loosen or stir up form two lines of any required length, as shown in Fig. 1. The two lower boats of the series A' are rigidly secured opposite each other at such a distance apart as it is desired to form the channel. If desired, the space between these two boats A' may be tloored over, as shown, to afford a ready passage for the men employed from one to the other side of the apparatus. The remaining boats of the series are lashed or otherwise connected behind the boats A', so that they can be swung outward or inward, as shown by the red lines, the guylinesf serving to hold them in any required position.

In front of the two forward boats, A', are mounted two paddle-wheels, O, similar to those used on stern-wheel steamers, and to the paddles are secured shovels or prongs for digging or loosening up the sand. These wheels O are mounted in an adjustable frame of any suitable construction, so that they can be raised or lowered, as may be required, as indicated by the red lines in Fig. 2. On the outer end ot' the shafts D of these wheels G is mounted a drum or pulley, b, which is attached rigidly to the shaft 'and turns with the wheel.

A cable, c, is provided, and has an anchor, O, secured to one end, as shown in Fig. 1. The anchor being dropped where desired, the cable is passed over the end of the rear boat, which is provided with a post, n, or other suitable means for holding the cable in [place thereon,y

and from thence the cable c extends forward and is wound once or more around the drum b, from whence it is passed back to the boat A', where it is passed around a post, d, or windlass of any proper construction, by which it may be controlledand paid out as desired by the attendants in charge. It will thus be seen that as the wheels C are made to revolve by the current operating on the paddles the cable c will be gradually unwound, and the boats thus permitted to drop gradually down the stream, their movements being controlled by the speed with which the cable c is paid out by the attendants. When desired, as it sometimes may be7 the cables may he detached from the wheels C and attached directly to the paying-out devices, in which case the wheels will continue to revolve independently of the Wmovement of the boats.

In order to control the current to a greater depth than merely that of the boats A, a series of lee-boards, B, are secured to the inner sides of the boats, and arranged to slide up and down, as shown in Fig. 2, suitable levers or other devices being provided for that purpose. By depressing these leeboards until they strike the sand it is obvious that they will thus form a barrier on each side and cause the water to owfdown between the two lilies of boats 5 and as these are wider apart at their upper ends than at their lower or front ends, it will be readily seen that the channel for the passage of the water will be thereby narrowed and the velocity ofthe current correspondingly increased as it passes between the boats A,

thereby sweeping away the fine loose sand as it passes, especially where loosened and stirred up by the wheels C.

As it is necessary that the channel formed should be of sufficient width to permit the boats A to pass, their front ends are inclined outward, as shown in Fig. 1, and the wheels C made of such a length as to reach to the outside of said boats A. By these means the water, as it passes from between the boats A', is deflected or turnedoutward at the edges, thereby cutting` or sweeping away the sand in front of the boats and ibi-ming a channel of sufficient width to permit them to pass.

In cases where the current is weak, or the sand or other obstruct-ion is too hard to be loosened by the wheels operated by the current, I propose to use steam or other power for the purpose of operating the wheels; and, if desired, it is obvious that such power may be used to propel the apparatus by means of the wheels.

It ill of course be understood that many minor details and devices well known to boat men will be used in connection with the apparatus, and that this description is intended to illustrate the general plan of operating, the details being varied according to circumstances.

rIhe operation is as follows: The dredge is located at the upper side of the bar that is to beremoved, with the wheels next to the bar, and at the point where it is proposed to start the channel. The anchors being dropped, the upper or rear boats will swing asunder as the cable is drawn tight, their distance apart being regulated by the guy-ropes j'. The leeboards B are then depressed, thereby contining the current more or less to the space between the two lines of boats, and directing` it 'with force against the wheels, which revolve and dig and stir upy the sand, which is then swept away bythe current of water.

As it is obvious that the pressure of the water against the leeboards would tend to tip the boats, especially when depressed to a considerable extent, I provide for this by extending guy r'ods or lines e from the boat on one side across to the bottom of the lee-boards on the opposite side, whereby they are firmly braced or tied and held in an upright position. For the purpose of assisting in keeping them upright, and also to settle the boats in the water, they may be"loaded with stone or other suitable material, the weight being placed on the side of the boat opposite from that to which the lee-boards are attached.

The dredge may be guided to the right or left, as desired, by paying out on one or the other of the cables more or less, and thereby swinging it to the right or left. llll/*hen desired to move it in narrow or crooked channels the boats may be detached and moved separately.

The cable o may be ot' any required length, and when once at work it will seldom be necessa-ry to raise the anchors until the'bar is cut through or removed.

By these means I am enabled to remove the sand-bars, or cut channels through them means of the power generated by the cur by of the stream itself, and thus, in a very simple and cheap manner, remove the great obstruction to the navigation of our Western livers. A few of these dredges kept in operation will serve to remove the bars as fast as they form., and thus keep4 the channel constantly open for the passage of boats.

Having -thus fully described my invention, what I claim isl. rIhe removal of sand-bars and similar obstructions, in the manner and by the means substantially as set forth.

2. The wheels C, having the shovels or prongs 'attached to the paddles, when arranged to operate, in combination with the boats or barges A, as shown and described.`

3. A series of boats or barges provided with the lee-boards B, and arranged to form a channel for the passage of the water, for the purpose of controlling or directing the current, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with the boats, arranged as set forth, the wheels G and the cables c, ar-

ranged and operating as described, for thepurpose of controlling the movements of the boats, as herein' set forth.

EDWIN BELL.

Witnesses: u

W. O. DODGE, E. E. ELLERBEGK. 

